Vote set on fire merger

Clay, Harris departments would join forces.

Clay, Harris departments would join forces.

March 22, 2009|TROY KEHOE WSBT-TV Reporter

GRANGER -- It's an idea that's been debated for nearly a decade, but Harris Township leaders say a proposed merger with Clay Fire Territory is finally moving forward. This time, the plan could result in a new fire department in St. Joseph County. The new Clay-Harris Fire Territory would become the third largest in St. Joseph County, providing service to more than 66,000 homes in Clay and Harris townships, as well as areas included under Clay's current fire territory: German Township, Roseland and Indian Village. Merger plans have been talked about before, first in 2000, then again in 2008. Those plans were put on hold at the last minute a year ago because of questions over a new state law. "The plan was originally just to have Harris join the existing fire territory," said Clay Fire Territory Chief Timm Schabbel. "But HEA 1001 basically stopped any existing fire territory from adding any new members. So, we kind of determined that our best approach is just to create a new fire department." Getting the word out Harris Township board members and Harris Township trustee Robert Wood presented the new plan to the public last week. Clay Township also had an informational meeting about the proposal. Harris Township board members and Clay Fire Territory members, including the Clay Township board, German Township board, the town of Roseland and Indian Village, will cast their votes this week. Harris fire crews responded to nearly 1,500 calls for service last year alone, Fire Chief John Vance told the crowd of about a dozen people. "Those numbers continue to grow every year as the township continues to grow" he said. The problem is, over the past few years, that growth has outpaced the 5 percent cap Indiana lawmakers placed on tax levies, forcing the department to borrow simply to stay near "minimum" staffing levels. "We had to borrow about $900,000 last year," Vance said. "And this year, it's looking more like $1.3 million. The national standard is four-man engine crews, and at the Anderson Road station, we're sometimes not even running three-man crews." A new agreement with Clay Fire Territory could help solve the problem. "We are going to form a new territory, not join with Clay, but it will actually be a new fire department," Vance said. Schabbel calls the move a "no-brainer." "Our two fire departments have always jointly responded to fires. So, really, all our efforts are right now to make sure our administrations can do the same thing," Schabbel said. Emergency loans are still an option, but they require the township to pay interest. That's money Harris could be using to hire at least one additional firefighter. In addition, no one knows how long the emergency loan option will last. Without the loans, Harris would likely face major cuts. "Without a merger or the emergency loans, we'd really have to gut our staffing. We'd look at a 50 percent reduction. That would be pretty crippling, and it would certainly impact the services we're able to provide," Vance said. Strength in numbers Vance isn't the only one concerned about that scenario. "If we have a structure fire anywhere in our area, (Harris) automatically responds with us," Schabbel said. "The ability for their fire department to be very strong is very important to us as well. So we share some of the concern with that." According to estimates by former St. Joseph County Auditor Michael Eby, formation of a new Clay-Harris Fire Territory would actually save taxpayers in the current Clay Territory about $24.30 per $100,000 of assessed value. That means the owner of a $200,000 home in Clay or German Townships would see a reduction of about $48.60 on their property tax bill next year. Harris Township tax bills would go up by about $3 for the same $200,000 home. Eby says that likely would go down after the first year of service. "Once the emergency loan is satisfied in 2010, Harris Township will no longer have a need to exercise an emergency fire loan," Eby wrote in a recent letter to Schabbel. "Once the loan is paid off, this line will no longer be necessary, and Harris Township should see a reduction in township taxes." Township trustees pointed out that Clay Territory taxpayers wouldn't be responsible for any of Harris' outstanding debt. "Both departments would be responsible for their own budgets during 2009, even if the new territory is operating," Schabbel said. "So, any debt that was out there before the merger is the responsibility of that entity. That means any loans for this year would be the responsibility of Harris Township." Under state law, all townships, towns and villages impacted by the merger have to sign off on the plan by the end of March.